title: Spore loads of Paranosema locustae (Microsporidia) in heavily infected grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) of the Argentine Pampas and Patagonia.
abstract: Paranosema locustae, an entomopathogen of grasshoppers and locusts, remains the only microsporidium registered as a biocontrol agent. After introductions from North America, it became established in grasshopper communities of Argentina. We measured the infection intensity of field collected, heavily infected male and female adults of individuals belonging to six grasshopper species, five melanoplines (Melanoplinae) (Baeacris pseudopunctulatus, Dichroplus maculipennis, Dichroplus vittatus, Neopedies brunneri, Scotussa lemniscata), and one gomphocerine (Gomphocerinae) (Staurorhectus longicornis). Average spore load among heavily infected grasshoppers ranged from 8.7±0.5×10(7) to 1.1±0.7×10(9). Only females of B. pseudopunctulatus and S. longicornis showed significantly higher spore loads than the males.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores CEPAVE, CCT La Plata CONICET-UNLP, and Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas CIC de la provincia de Buenos Aires, calle 2 # 584, La Plata 1900, Argentina. santiago@cepave.edu.ar
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plischuk
authors.forename: Christian J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bardi
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D005216:Fat Body / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D016814:Microsporidia / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D013172:Spores, Fungal
keywords: Biocontrol; Feeding habits; Gomphocerinae; Melanoplinae; Spore production